"Those guys?"
Shirogai smiled faintly as he poured half a glass of wine, then tossed it toward the figure standing at the door.
"Kizaru, what you really want to say is… 'those monsters,' right?"
Thud!
Kizaru caught the glass with practiced ease, not a single drop spilling. His weathered face stretched into an exaggerated smile.
"They're indeed a bunch of monsters. Restless monsters who thrive on throwing the world into chaos."
His lazy tone carried an odd sharpness.
"But you, Shirogai… I don't think you're one of them. Compared to their twisted minds, you're far too… normal."
Shirogai chuckled, raising his glass again. His smile was calm, but his eyes glimred with sothing darker.
"Normal? Who would ever believe that? Perhaps, Kizaru, you think I'm even more of a monster than they are?"
Kizaru let out a long, drawn-out laugh.
"Oh my, oh my~~~ Shirogai is far too humble! To this old man, you're clearly an even greater monster than those monsters."
Before encountering Shirogai Yamikuro, Kizaru had never imagined soone capable of wielding so many Devil Fruit powers at once.
The two lifted their glasses from a distance, sharing a silent toast before draining them dry.
Kizaru remained leaning casually against the tavern entrance, keeping a careful distance. His voice stayed lazy, yet probing.
"Shirogai, reconsider joining the Shichibukai. As a show of the World Governnt's sincerity, you may na any conditions. This ti, there's no limit."
Shirogai poured himself more wine, lips twitching in amusent.
"Any conditions? Hah. Is the title of Warlord being sold at a discount now? The Celestial Dragons must be desperate to suddenly act so generous."
With a flick of his wrist, Kizaru tossed a dark golden Den Den Mushi across the room.
"You can discuss the details directly with the higher-ups. I'm just a ssenger."
Shirogai caught it effortlessly, gazing at the trembling snail-phone in his palm. A sly grin crept across his face.
"Then let's hear what those five old n are willing to pay to buy
off."
Kizaru's eyes narrowed beneath his sunglasses. His mind flashed back to his last report to the Gorosei.
Shirogai had fought two Admirals at once, escaping unscathed. Despite the heavy Marine losses, the Gorosei had not been angry. On the contrary… they sounded pleased.
"Oh? He fought two Admirals alone and held his ground?"
"Hmm. Excellent."
The Celestial Dragons' unusual attention toward Shirogai Yamikuro left Kizaru unsettled. He could only guess it was tied to the Seraphim Project that Vegapunk was developing. Perhaps, in their eyes, Shirogai's existence could serve as a catalyst to make those creations stronger.
With an amused chuckle, Shirogai dialed the Den Den Mushi.
The line connected quickly. He raised his glass again, taunting,
"Hello? Gorosei? I'm the sixth one now. Let's hear your conditions."
On the other end, the five elders sat together, their ancient faces unreadable, their silence heavier than the sea. They ignored his jab entirely.
"Stop with the pointless gas."
Jaygarcia Saturn, the Scientific Defense "Martial God," leaned on his cane, his thick white beard swaying as he spoke with calm authority.
"Plunderer, Shirogai Yamikuro. State all your conditions directly."
Shirogai swirled his wine, smiling.
"State all my conditions, is it?"
Though they still looked down on him as an ant, even the Gorosei had to acknowledge his power. Power strong enough that they both feared and coveted it.
If he kept stirring chaos, others with greater ambitions—especially the Four Emperors, or the Revolutionary Army led by Monkey D. Dragon—might take notice.
The Gorosei scorned the Revolutionary Army as nothing more than drears trying to topple the Celestial Dragons. Yet even they couldn't track its movents completely, nor erase it like they would an island with a Buster Call.
And if Shirogai Yamikuro—already wielding God-level combat strength rivaling the Emperors—ever chose to side with Dragon, the Revolutionary Army would beco a threat too great to ignore.
What Shirogai lacked was only what the Emperors already had—followers and territory.
Still, the Gorosei weren't concerned with overthrowal itself. They only sought to preserve the balance until the day arrived when they alone, the descendants of the "creators," would stand above all.
Shirogai didn't care about their sches. He wanted to push their limits.
"Our last talk wasn't exactly pleasant," he said smoothly. "So, what's different this ti? Do you want
to assassinate a couple of Emperors? Or sothing else minor like that?"
Saint Warcury's deep voice cut through the call.
"There are two requirents that must be t."
Shirogai widened his eyes in mock surprise, his tone exaggerated.
"Wow, only two? What a bargain! I agree to just two requests and suddenly I'm a Warlord. I'm so excited. Tell ."
He shook the wine bottle toward Kizaru with a grin.
"Kizaru, let's celebrate!"
Covering the bottle in Armant Haki, he tossed it casually.
"I rarely drink," Kizaru muttered, though he caught it, poured a little, and raised a distant toast before drinking.
Then, Saint Mars spoke with chilling calm.
"The first condition: you must marry into the Celestial Dragons."
Pfft!
Pfft!
Both Shirogai and Kizaru spat their wine out at the sa ti.
For a mont, silence. The two n—standing on opposite sides of the law—stared at each other, both wearing expressions of sheer disbelief.
"…Marry in?"
Even Shirogai couldn't hide his surprise. The Gorosei, those ancient n ruling the world for centuries, were proposing sothing this absurd?
They wanted to bind him to the Celestial Dragons through marriage?
"Interesting… Hahahaha! Truly interesting!"
Shirogai laughed so hard he almost choked.
He had escaped marriage on Earth, only to be cornered into it here—by the Gorosei of all people.
"This is too damn amusing."
_____
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